dcougar2u

Great topic. Last weekend, I entered a long sweeping turn on my favorite ride at my regular entry speed (aggressive, but not unsafe) and, apparently, had a rear slide. There was a patch of dampness on the road just prior to the entry (which I kinda ignored). My video camera was running and a friend was behind me. As I rolled on the throttle, the rear (ever so smoothly) slid out a little (maybe a second in duration). I didn't feel it at all. When we stopped, my friend asked me if I knew my rear slid out (I didn't). When I viewed the video, sure enough, you could see the angle tighten up toward the inside of the curve. Since I didn't feel it, I had no SR's and the bike just handled smoothly (as they tend to do if you let them). I've been thinking about it and am bothered that I couldn't feel it. So, I thought I'd log on the this forum and seek expert advice. Well, what do you know, here's the topic and (as far as I can gather) it's a very elusive thing to feel when it happens so smoothly. Am I right? (I've taken Levels 1-3, feel very comfortable on my bike on my favorite road and think I have good body position and am relaxed on the bars, etc.) Is it more like: I know this turn very well and at this entry speed and this throttle roll-on, I can expect that the bike will start to slide at a certain spot?

Thanks everyone for the technical wisdom. The new front tire cured the problem. I usually change the front with the second rear. This is the first time I've gone through the complete cycle with the Power Ones (2 rears + 1 front). I suspect the heat cycles on the softer rubber may be the root cause. I stretched the front out to almost 6 months (4 track days + weekends) and I think they started to get a little slippery. Not as bad as Pierreli, so I've given the Power Ones another shot. I've been waiting for someone to weigh in on the new Q2. Glad to hear some positive words. May go with Q2s next cycle.

I ride the same road (Ortega Hwy) every weekend. The last couple weeks, I've been getting the feeling that my front end is slipping a little bit and have had a couple of wide exits. My tires (Michelin Power Ones) seem to have sufficient tread front and rear and I am disciplined about checking the pressure. I tried letting a pound out of the front but the feeling is still there. I am having new tires installed (same type) because I have lost confidence in these. I discussed the feeling with a faster rider, who told me to wait just a little longer before I get back on the throttle. He explained that I need to keep the front end loaded up to the apex by staying off the throttle and, only upon reaching the apex, get back on the throttle. I've take Levels 1-3 and read TOFW more times than I can remember (honestly, I use it as the "gospel"). I must admit that I've been experimenting with "earlier" (and a little tighter) entry points that allow me to get on the throttle a little bit before the apex, where I used to go "deeper" and quick turn, which caused me to get back on the throttle about at the apex. Could I be unloading the front too soon? I haven't tried the new tires yet (must wait for the weekend). I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this. My faster friend's logic makes sense to me but I remember Keith saying "no one ever loses the front end by getting on the throttle" (admittedly an oversimplification of what Keith really means).

Don't I wish that was me in the picture! Truth is, it's my hero Ben Spies. I've been told by instructors to look for the rumble strip for turn-in at turn 9 at Big Willow. Also, I've seen some good sized cracks at the outside of the track. They recently painted some striped lines for an exit lane that could be used. Takes a real good sized set of you-know-whats to keep your speed up through turn 8 until you spot something, though. Thanks for the reply.

I understand the importance of having and using reference points to determine location (for various purposes), but I never seem to have enough time to find good reference points. The Level II exercise was useful and instructive but not really practical conduct during a track day. One is not allowed to walk around on the track to really see it up close and personal and the couple of "sighting laps" at the beginning of each track day don't provide me enough time. I try to spot reference points during the first couple (tire warmup) laps each session but then must bring the speed up or risk interfering with other riders. Do I just need to keep trying and, once I've spent enough money and circled the track enough times, eventually I'll spot enough? The "rumble strips" are good but you need to practically be on top of them before you really see them clearly. The cones are good but they may or may not be placed exactly as they were the last time (by the last track day vendor). Skid marks come and go. Cracks are hard to spot from a distance. My nemesis is turn 9 at Big Willow. Any thoughts?

Moved up to CBR1000RR from VFR800A about 7 months ago (really didn't like the way even the 600's were zooming past me at track days) and looking forward to learning the "Basics" next month. "Burn up" the Ortega Highway on weekends (just kidding, but it seems fast to me). Also have a Harley (2002 Heritage Softtail) and a 2001 Gold Wing (for "She Who Must Always Be Obeyed"). Been riding a while (40+ years) but only a couple years on sport bikes. However, I'm hooked and plan to try my hand at some club racing (WSMC), if I survive the training. I know -- I'm too old for this, but how old was Keith (I guess that's Mr. Code to me) again? PS -- I've read TOTW I&II and Soft Science more times than I can count and still refer to it all the time!